The high number of deaths and injury among women during childbirth in developing countries has moved a group of volunteers at Dubbo.
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The Inner Wheel members are determinedly supporting efforts to provide a simple network of maternal health care in Africa.
The club is inviting the Dubbo community to help it as its sets about to raise $2000 for the cause.
The Barbara May Foundation reports that in developing countries more than half a million women die from childbirth every year.
In Ethiopia it is estimated up to one in 12 women will die during pregnancy. It is also estimated for every women who dies during labour, another 30 women will sustain a related injury, which can stay with them for the rest of their lives.
The foundation is concerned about obstetric fistulas, which it calls the "worst and most feared injury" women may suffer.
Inner Wheel Club of Dubbo president Meryl Usback said it was terrible a lack of hospitals and doctors to help an obstructed labour too often resulted in a fistula, from which urine or faeces flowed uncontrollably.
"We don't want this to happen to any woman," she said.
"The worse thing is the sufferers are ostracised, even by their families."
The club is selling raffle tickets for a Christmas hamper, proceeds of which will be donated to the Barbara May Foundation.
The foundation supports the work of Australian medical missionaries Valerie and Andrew Browning in developing a simple network of maternal health care, including trained community birth attendants in villages and maternity waiting areas along main roads equipped to perform emergency deliveries.
